Walk-Off Field Goal Pushes Georgia Tech Past Clemson, 24-21

ATLANTA – No. 12 Clemson rallied to tie the game on an Adam Randall touchdown with 3:26 remaining, but a 55-yard field goal as time expired gave Georgia Tech (3-0, 1-0 ACC) a 24-21 victory on Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Clemson (1-2, 0-1 ACC) erased a 13-point first-half deficit and a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit, but Aidan Birr hit the third of his three field goals to clinch the win.

Quarterback Cade Klubnik finished 15-of-26 passing for 207 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. led the way receiving, hauling in seven passes for 126 yards, including a go-ahead 73-yard touchdown reception. Running back Adam Randall added 80 rushing yards on 15 carries as Clemson ran for a season-high 174 yards on 35 carries and outgained the Yellow Jackets, 381-358, in total offense.

Clemson recorded eight tackles for loss while surrendering 147 rushing yards, a season low for Georgia Tech, and safety Ronan Hanafin led Clemson with 10 tackles.

Georgia Tech used a 12-play, 67-yard drive to reach Clemson’s four-yard line on the opening possession, but Ricardo Jones made the stop on fourth down to give Clemson possession at the eight-yard line.

Klubnik fumbled on Clemson’s first possession, giving Georgia Tech the ball back in Clemson territory at the 30-yard line. Clemson did not yield a first down on the ensuing possession, but Georgia Tech opened the scoring on a 40-yard field goal by Aidan Birr to give the Yellow Jackets a 3-0 lead.

The Yellow Jackets extended their lead to 10-0 on the first play of the second quarter, finishing a five-play, 65-yard drive with a Jamal Haynes rushing touchdown from five yards out. After forcing Clemson to punt on the next drive, Georgia Tech pushed its lead to 13-0 with a 42-yard Birr field goal with 7:46 remaining in the first half.

Clemson responded on the ensuing possession, capping a 16-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 6:57 with a one-yard Klubnik rushing touchdown, which cut the Yellow Jackets’ lead to 13-7. On the drive, Clemson converted a 3rd-and-22 in its own territory when Adam Randall rushed up the middle for a 30-yard gain.

Clemson received the opening kickoff of the second half and drove 66 yards to the Georgia Tech 9-yard line, but Klubnik was intercepted by T.J. Daniels, who gave the Yellow Jackets the ball at the Clemson 48-yard line after a 45-yard return.

After forcing a three-and-out, Klubnik connected with Wesco over the middle, and the sophomore broke outside and found room near the home sideline, taking it the distance for a 73-yard touchdown to give Clemson its first lead of the game at 14-13. It was the second-longest connection for the duo, just behind a 76-yarder against App State last season.

Across the third and fourth quarters, Georgia Tech drove 90 yards in 13 plays, and Haynes King rushed for a one-yard touchdown to take the lead with 10:02 remaining in the game. The Yellow Jackets converted a two-point attempt to push the score to 21-14.

Clemson responded with a 13-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Adam Randall to tie the game, 21-21, with 3:26 remaining.

Georgia Tech drove 38 yards in 10 plays to the Clemson 37-yard line, where Clemson made a stop on third down, but the Yellow Jackets sent the field goal unit on the field with the clock running, and Birr made a 55-yard field goal as time expired to give Georgia Tech the 24-21 victory.

Clemson will return home for its next game on Saturday, Sept. 20 against Syracuse. The contest is slated to kick off at noon ET on either ABC or ESPN, an exact television network designation for which is expected to be confirmed later this evening. Ticket information for that game on Family Weekend is available here.